Harlow at a glance
- Postcode districts
- CM17, CM18, CM19, CM20
- Population
- about 93,300 (GeoNames)
- Council area
- Harlow Council
- Building approval
- Harlow Council building control, or a registered building control approver
- Nearest main town
- Chelmsford, about 16 miles
- Guide price region
- East of England (+5% on West Midlands rates)
Why choose EPDM rubber roofing in Harlow?
For landlords with property in Harlow, EPDM's low upkeep is the main draw: once the outlets are kept clear and the trims are checked once or twice a year, there is little else to do. It also goes down quickly on a small roof, which keeps disruption for tenants to a minimum.
In and around Harlow, flat roofs are typically found on 1960s and 1970s link-detached houses with flat-roofed garages and porches, and on shops with flat-roofed rear stores below flats. The East of England is the driest part of Britain, with parts of the Anglian region around 630 mm a year, so summer heat and UV, not rainfall, do most of the ageing on a felt roof.
How much does an EPDM rubber roof cost in Harlow?
Guide price in Harlow: £1,700–£2,950 for a typical 18 m² garage roof in EPDM, including VAT at East of England rates. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.
| Job | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Single garage (18 m²), EPDM rubber | £1,700–£2,950 |
| Extension (20 m²), EPDM, new deck + insulation | £2,950–£5,150 |
| Porch or bay (4 m²), EPDM | £800–£1,300 |
How are the joins, edges and upstands made watertight on an EPDM roof?
They are bonded with contact adhesive and sealed with purpose-made EPDM tapes and pre-formed pieces, because the edges and details are where most rubber roof leaks start.
- Wall upstands: the rubber is turned up the wall, usually to about 150 mm above the finished roof, fully bonded, then finished with a termination bar or a cover flashing chased into the masonry.
- Corners: folded rather than cut where possible, or finished with pre-formed pieces.
- Joins: on roofs wider than one sheet, the laps are cleaned, primed and joined with splice tape, then rolled firmly.
- Pipes and vents: sealed with pre-formed pipe boots rather than relying on mastic.
- Edges and outlets: drip and kerb trims are fixed and the junction with the membrane is sealed with cover tape; outlets are bonded into the membrane at the lowest point.
We also check the falls before laying, because standing water around an outlet shortens the life of any detail. There is more on this in our pages on edges and drainage and rooflight upstands.
What's included?
- Deck check and replacement of soft or rotten boards
- Written workmanship guarantee, plus manufacturer guarantee registration where available
- Strip-out of the old covering, with waste taken away
- New drip and kerb trims, outlets and upstand details
Building regulations in England
Replacing more than half of a flat roof over a heated room usually counts as renovating a thermal element, so the roof is insulated to around 0.16 W/m²K where that's technically and economically feasible, and the work is notified to building control: the council or a registered building control approver, unless a registered competent person self-certifies it. A roof on a new extension is built to 0.15 W/m²K. Patch repairs, and most unheated detached garages, don't trigger the upgrade. Structural changes, or a new covering that adds 15% or more to the roof's weight, also need approval. More on the rules.
Which nearby areas do we also cover?
- Hoddesdon · 5 mi
- Ware · 6 mi
- Bishop's Stortford · 7 mi
- Waltham Abbey · 8 mi
- Cheshunt · 8 mi
- Hertford · 8 mi
EPDM rubber roofing in Harlow: questions
Do you cover Harlow?
Yes. Harlow is part of our Essex coverage, including postcode districts CM17, CM18, CM19, CM20. Surveys and roofs are carried out by vetted roofing teams working under S&K Property Investments and Improvement Ltd.
Who checks building regulations for a flat roof in Harlow?
Where the work needs approval it goes to Harlow Council building control, or a registered building control approver. We tell you at the survey whether your job needs it and deal with the paperwork as part of the quote.
How much does an EPDM rubber roof cost in Harlow?
£1,700–£2,950 for a typical 18 m² garage roof in EPDM, at East of England guide rates including VAT. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.
Can you walk on an EPDM roof?
Occasionally, for maintenance, yes, but EPDM is not designed as a regular walking surface. Where you need a route to plant or windows, walkway pads can be bonded on, or GRP may be a better fit.
Can you put a green roof on top of EPDM?
Yes. EPDM is often used under sedum, with a protection layer, drainage and growing medium laid on top. The structure must be able to carry the extra weight, which we check before quoting.